YPM
This temple’s existence is marked by earthquakes of such magnitude, that its reconstruction was necessary on many occasions, with important stylistic interventions. The church’s history goes back to 1614, when a group of mulattos built a chapel on this site, with wooden roofs and beams, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1641. Reconstructed, it was leveled another earthquake in 1766, and reconstructed a second time, until it was devastated by the 1812 earthquake. In 1857 the temple was rebuilt again, but in 1900 a new earthquake affected its structure slightly. Then, the virgin’s image was taken out of the temple to appease nature. As a result, Our Lady of Las Mercedes is now the «mediator of earthquakes». The church, which had a cemetery in the back, has a rectangular floor plan, divided into naves by columns with Tuscan capitals supporting semicircular arches. The central nave, of greater height, has ogival vaults. It is separated from the presbytery by a semicircular transverse arch and differences in levels marked by steps. Its two-body symmetrical façade has neoclassical elements. On the first body there are three accesses to the temple, consisting of doorways with semicircular arches, separated by fluted pillars placed on podiums. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1960.
DF-38